Death Cab pledge to ban 'autotune abuse'

Death Cab For Cutie have launched a spoof political campaign to stop "autotune abuse" in music.

The US indie band wore blue ribbons on their jackets at last night's Grammys in a bid to raise awareness of their campaign.

Frontman Ben Gibbard said: "Autotuning is affecting literally thousands of singers today and thousands of records that are coming out.

"So we just want to raise awareness while we're here and try to bring back the blue note... The note that's not so perfectly in pitch and just gives the recording some soul and some kind of real character. It's how people really sing."

Autotune technology, which has been used by artists including Britney Spears and Kanye West, is used to correct vocal pitch and instrumental performances.

Death Cab For Cutie's LP Narrow Stairs was nominated in Best Alternative Album category at the Grammys, losing out to Radiohead's In Rainbows.